In modern democracy, a government is a contrast between the rulers and the ruled. Democracy is a form of government in which power is held by the people through free and fair elections. The people choose their representatives who then make decisions on their behalf. This means that the government is made up of elected officials who hold power temporarily, and are accountable to the people who voted for them. In this way, the government represents a contrast between the rulers (elected officials) and the ruled (the people who voted for them).